The psychology behind your favorite pop culture moments and characters
When movies, television shows, and other forms of popular culture are well-crafted, they become more than an entertaining pastime. They become reflections of the human psyche that not only entertain but also become a conduit for valuable life lessons and insight. For example, HBO’s Game of Thrones, adapted from George R.R. Martin’s book series A Song of Ice and Fire, captivated audiences around the world while giving viewers a crash course in interpersonal politics, morality, leadership, human motivation, trauma, persuasion, and much more. Game of Thrones became a pop culture phenomena that people looked to find answers to questions such as “How do you inspire others to a cause?” and “How do you face insurmountable odds with courage?” People also looked to Game of Thrones to find thought provoking questions such as, “What would I do if I were in Ned’s shoes?” and “What do I do if the sacred vows I’ve taken contradict each other?”
Game of Thrones, and other great movies and television, facilitate fascinating discussions of human psychology. Below I will provide a list of podcasts featuring CBT SoCal staff discussing the psychology behind popular movies and television shows:
Game of Thrones
CBT SoCal’s Kristin Howard, LMFT, and Dr. Jason von Stietz joined Dr. Martin Hsia on the PsychRally Podcast to discuss the psychology behind their favorite characters and moments. (See the YouTube video featured at the top of the article.)
Dr. Jason von Stietz joined the 2Nerds Podcast to discuss the the Characters Jon Snow and Ygritte the Wildling from a psychological perspective.
Star Wars
Dr. Martin Hsia invited Dr. Ali Mattu to join him on the PsychRally Podcast and they discussed how mindfulness relates to the underlying themes of Star Wars.
Dr. Jason von Stietz joined the 2Nerds Podcast to discuss the sport psychology of Kylo Ren and Rey in the Last Jedi.
Star Trek
Dr. Jason von Stietz joined a planetary scientist on the Strange New Worlds Podcast to discuss the sport psychology behind Star Trek characters from Discovery, Deep Space Nine, and Next Generation.
Dr. Jason von Stietz appears on the 2Nerds Podcast to discuss the fan-favorite characters Commander Riker and Captain Picard from a sport psychology perspective.
Rocky Balboa
Dr. Jason von Stietz joined the 2Nerds Podcast to discuss the sport psychology behind the beloved fictional boxer Rocky Balboa.
Sarah Connor (The Terminator Movies)
Dr. Jason von Stietz joins the 2Nerds Podcast to discuss the sport psychology of Sarah Connor, the mother of humankinds savior from the terminators.
Ellen Ripley (The Aliens Movies)
Dr. Jason von Stietz appears on the 2Nerds Podcast to discuss the sport psychology behind Ellen Ripley from the Aliens movies.
The Tiger King (Netflix Series)
Dr. von Stietz joins the DCE Pirate Radio Podcast to discuss the psychological concepts that are hypothetically relevant to the events of the hit Netflix series Tiger King.
Unorthodox (Netflix Series)
Kristin Howard, LMFT and Dr. von Stietz begin an IGTV Series called Psychology and TV! where they discuss the psychology behind hit shows such as Unorthodox.
Seven Seconds (Netflix Series)
Kristin Howard, LMFT and Dr. von Stietz meet on IGTV to discuss the psychology and racial issues related to Netflix’s Seven Seconds.
If you are interested in the psychology of movies, television shows, and other pop culture moments, stay up to date on CBT SoCal staff podcast appearances by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Dr. Jason von Stietz specializes in Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Sport/Performance Psychology in Torrance, CA. He provides online therapy (telehealth) by way of the Torrance office and is available for a free initial phone consultation. Dr. von Stietz works with individuals from Long Beach, the greater Los Angeles area, and the South Bay including Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo and all over California.
